Press for cutting sheet metal



July 11, 1939. c, 1 RHo s 2,165,676

PRESS FOR CUTTING SHEET METAL Filed June'l'7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 11, 1939. c. J. RHODES PRESS FOR CUTTING SHEET METAL I Filed June 17, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 11, 1939. c, J RHODES 2,165,676

I PRESS FOR CUTTING SHEET METAL Filed June 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 flow w 1 July 11, 1939. c. J RHODES 2,165,676

PRESS FOR CUTTING SHEET METAL Filed June 1'7, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 jay .17

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Patented July 11, 1939 2,165,676

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE PRESS FOR CUTTING SHEET METAL Charles Joseph Rhodes, Wakefield, England Application June 17, 1937, Serial No. 148,701 In Great Britain February 11, 1937 23 Claims. (Cl. 271--14) This invention relates to presses for cutting step by step feeding means, each sheet being ausheet metal and punching a number of articles tomatically released after it has been completely from sheets which are individually presented per orated by the p c meensthereto, and of the kind having mechanism Preferably the means whereby the successive 5 whereby the sheet is automatically fed, for the Sheets are re oved f om th p Stack is p 5' punching operation, with a series of step by step matio V motions, first in one direction and then, after In cases where the machine is provided with being displaced laterally to the first line of mov pp rs for holding e Sheets While they are p ment, in the opposite direction. sented to and fed through the machine, mechani- 1 v For the purpose of preventing waste of matecal means is provided for taking a sheet from a d rial in the case where certain shaped articles, for pack of sheets and presenting it to said grippers example round ones, are being punched from the without manual assistance, together with mechsheet, the machine is provided with sheet feeding anism for causing said grippers to automatically means, which, although feeding the sheet in the grip the sheet, and mechanism whereby e 0f manner just described, will cause the sheets to the sheets is automatically freed after it has 15" be so perforated that the perforations in one row been completely perforated by the punching are staggered with respect to those of the next means. V 7 row, in order that the maximum possible number According to one construction, as applied to a of articles can be punched from each sheet, a machine having the aforesaid transverse and machine in which the feed is so arranged being gravity actuated slides, automatically closing 20 known as a stagger press. grippers are'provided for holding the sheet onto In one construction of this kind of machine, the the gravity slide, together with means adapted punching means is arranged to reciprocate along to move onto each successive sheet of the pack a vertically inclined axis,'and the sheet being opand hold the sheet, and while so holding it, carry erated upon is fed under said punching means it to a point ja t d Slides for it to be 5 whilst being maintained in an inclined plane at gripped by said grippers, which latter are autoa right angle to the said axis, the sheet in this maticallyopened after the completely perforated case usually being carried on a gravity actuated sheet has been carried clear of the punching vertically inclined slide mounted upon a transmeans, to permit said sheet to fall from or be verse slide, on which latter the sheet is fed from ejected from the machine, mechanism also being 30 side to side of the machine underneath the provided for then returning the gravity slide to punching means. After each horizontally exits initial position prior to the feeding of the suc tending row of perforations has been made in the ceeding sheet into the position to be held by the sheet, as a result of a number of punching operagrippers. 5 tions, the gravity slide is caused to drop an The means adapted to move onto each successamount necessary to bring an unperforated porive sheet of the pack and hold said sheet while tion of the sheet in position to be fed beneath the carrying it to the point adjacent the slides, for it punching means upon the reverse lateral moveto be held by the grippers consists of suckers. ment of the transverse slide. In all cases Where the sheets are of magnetic 0 The sheet is usually secured in position upon material the means adapted to move ontoeach the gravity slide by hand actuated gripping successive sheet of the pack and hold the sheet means, which also needs to be manually operated while carrying it to the point adjacent the slides, to release the sheet after it has been completely for it to be gripped by the grippers may be elecperforated by the punching means. tro-magnetic means, in which case suitable pro- It is more particularly to this construction of vision must be made for preventing more than machine that the present invention applies. one sheet at a time being transported thereby.

According to the present practice, it is neces- Alternatively, the sheets may be extracted from sary for the sheets of metal to be individually the pack by a reciprocating member provided placed in the machine by the operator. with a projection or projections designed to en- T According to the present invention, the sheets gage the edge of the sheet on its effective stroke, 50 are assembled conveniently in a stack or pile, losuitable provision being made whereby only one cated at a different station from the step by step sheet at a time can be so extracted, and transfeeding means, from which pile they are autoported to the point adjacent the step by step matically extracted one by one prior to being feeding means and then presented to the latter.

transported and automatically presented to the According to a further modification, the ex- 55 traction of the sheets from the pack may be effected by means of grippers carried by a reciprocating member, which grippers are arranged to engage a sheet on the forward movement of the body and transport it into the desired position.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a stagger press embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional view showing certain of the parts as seen from the front of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the manner in which the suckers are caused by a cam to descend onto the uppermost sheet in the magazine.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the manner in which suction is then applied to the suckers, by control means actuated by a second cam.

Fig. 5 is a view showing how the first cam next raises the suckers with the sheet from the magazine.

Fig. 6 shows a third cam which then causes compressed air to be applied to the left-hand end of a horizontal cylinder to cause the suckers to travel with the sheet in a direction toward the press to a certain point.

Fig.7 shows the suckers and the sheet after they have arrived at this point.

Fig. 8 illustrates how the first cam then causes the suckers to move the sheet onto the sheet slide.

Fig. 9 shows how pressure is then caused by the third cam to be applied momentarily to the right hand end of the horizontal cylinder to cause the sheet to be moved against a locating stop.

Fig. 10 is a view of a fourth cam which next causes pressure to be removed from the lower end of a vertically inclined cylinder to allow the sheet slide to move down under its own weight onto positioning means.

Fig. 11 is a view showing the sheet slide after it has moved down onto said positioning means and the upper edge of the sheet has been clamped to said slide.

Fig. 12 shows how the second cam then causes the suction to be cut off from the suckers.

Fig. 13 shows how, after this, the first cam raises the suckers.

Fig. 14 illustrates how the third cam then causes pressure to be applied to the right-hand end of the horizontal cylinder to send the suckers back to their initial position (in which they are shown in Fig. 2).

Fig. 15 shows a fifth cam which next trips a lever operatively associated with the main machine clutch, to start the machine.

Fig. 16 shows the sheet being moved by the sheet slide under the punch, which latter has punched the first article from the sheet.

Fig. 17 shows the completely punched sheet still in the slide, after it has been moved clear of the punch.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary perspective View showing certain details.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l indicates generally the main machine or stagger press having the usual form of transverse slide 2 carried at its upper end by means of rollers 3 which are located within and adapted to traverse a hollow slotted rail member 4 secured to the frame of the machine. The transverse slide is, at a point near its lower end, secured to a shoe 5 slidingly mounted upon a rail 5a in the known manner, which rail is mounted upon the machine frame in any suitable manner (not shown).

Mounted upon the transverse slide 2 is a vertical slide 6.

Carried by blocks 1, 8, mounted on rods 1a, 8a, are pawls 9, iii, the said rods being slidingly mounted in brackets such as Ha mounted upon the frame I.

The rods 10., 8a, are adapted to be oppositely reciprocated through gearing H operatively connected to the crank shaft P of the punch, and the pawls 9, H3, are adapted to be alternately lowered and raised by means (not shown) usually employed in this type of press, into and out of engagement with the respective racks 941, la, carried upon the transverse slide 2, whereby the transverse slide, together with the gravity slide, which latter also carries the sheet, is given a step by step motion beneath and in timed relationship with respect to the operation of the punch, and over the die x, first in one direction for one row of perforations to be punched, and then (after the gravity slide has moved downward) in the opposite direction for the next roW of perforations to be punched.

The downward movement of the gravity slide is controlled by an arm l2 which is tripped after each horizontal row of perforations has been punched to partially rotate a shaft i 3 provided with a series of staggered projections i4 and car-- ried by the transverse slide 2, the said projections being so arranged that they are successively engaged by a pawl l5 carried by the upper end of the gravity slide, whereby the latter is permitted to move downward after each horizontal row of perforations is produced in the sheet.

I6, I! indicate the projections against which the arm 12 is tripped at the end of each row of perforations.

The staggering of the rows of perforations in the sheet is effected by virtue of the fact that the ratchet teeth of one rack are staggered with respect to those of the other rack.

Index or detent means (not shown), such as are usually employed on this type of machine, are provided for holding the transverse slide as the pawls 9, l0, ride over the respective racks, and whereby said slide is prevented from shifting during each punching operation.

The whole of the construction, arrangement and operation of the transverse slide 2 and vertical or gravity slide ii just described is similar in principle to that of the well known arrangements with which such presses are usually provided.

Passing laterally through and secured in the frame of the machine is a cylinder I8 which extends for a considerable distance beyond the left hand side of the said frame and is provided at its extreme outer or left hand end with a bracket i9 and at a point closer to the machine with a similar bracket 29, which last-mentioned bracket is connected to the bracket I9 by a tie rod 2|, which extends along in spaced relationship to the lower portion of the cylinder and at its inner end passes through and is secured by nuts 22, to the said frame.

Extending between the upper portions of the brackets l9 and 20 and journaled in bearings formed therein is a shaft 23.

The tie rod l9 and shaft 23 are arranged parallel to each other and to the cylinder.

Secured to the slide Ed by a bracket 24 is a magazine 25 for containing the sheets S, the said magazine being provided with a base portion 26 and upstanding lugs 21 by means of which the sheets are maintained in the correct position upon said base.

Slidingly mounted by means of downwardly extending lugs 28 upon the tie rod 2i and the shaft 23 is a plate 29 provided with upstanding lugs 38 perforated to form bearings for a shaft 3!, upon the opposite ends of which are secured two armed levers 32, to the lower end of each of which levers is pivoted the upper end of a rod 33 which extends through a'guide 34 formed upon the lower surface of the plate 29.

Each of the rods 33 is provided, at its lower end, with a rubber sucker 35, the purpose of these suckers being to descend against the action of springs 36 (Fig. 1) onto the uppermost plate in the magazine, in the manner which will hereinafter be described.

Disposed within the cylinder I8 is a piston l 8a, indicated in Fig. 2 by dotted lines, the piston rod !8b of which passes through a gland 31 at the inner endof the cylinder and is connected by a yoke 38 to a bar 39 which freely passes through a perforation in the main frame, also a perforation in the bracket 20, and is at its extreme outer or left-hand end secured to a lug 43 (Fig. 1) formed upon the plate 29.

The arrangement just described is such that when compressed air is applied to the left-hand end of the cylinder, the plate 29 and the parts carried thereby will be caused to travel along toward the main machine frame, into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7, it being adapted to thereafter be returned to its initial position by the application of compressed air to the right- .hand end of the cylinder I8.

Provided upon the upper end of each of the levers 32 is a pin 4|, the pin 4! of the left-hand lever engaging a forked lever 42 'secured upon the left-hand end portion of the shaft 23 when the plate 29 is in its initial position, and the pin 4| is a bracket 44, upon which is mounted a vertically inclined cylinder 45, the piston 46 of which is connected by a piston rod 4'! to a forked member 43 carried at the lower end of a square rod 43 slidingly mounted in brackets 50 secured to the "upper and lower ends of the cylinder 45.

The forked member 48 normally engages a pin 48a. upon a bell crank lever 48b pivoted upon the upper part of the gravity slide. The bell crank lever is provided with an arcuate slot 480 formed "concentrically with the pivot of said lever and with which slot engages a pin 5! fixed upon the gravity slide to limit the movement of the lever between the position in which it is shown in Figs.

v .2 and 7 and that in which it is shown in Figs.

uppermost of the aforesad projections M, as ,.shown in Fig. 1.

Formed upon the upper portion of the gravity slide 6 and near each end thereof is a lug 52 perforated to form a bearing for a short spindle 53, such as shown more clearly in Fig. 18.

i Secured upon the upper end of each of the spindles 53 is an arm 54, these two arms being operatively connected by a link 55 having an upstanding pin 56 which engages a slot 5? formed in the lower arm of the bell-crank lever 48b.

Mounted upon the lower end of each spindle 53 is a cam 58, (see Fig. 18), which engages with a roller 59 carried on the upper end of a jaw member 60 pivoted between a pair of lugs 5! cast upon the gravity slide 6, the arrangement being such that when the arms 54 are maintained by the bell crank lever in the position in which they are shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the effective portions of the jaw members are in spaced relationship with respect to the upper surface of the slide 6,

but when said arms are moved by the bell crank lever into the position in which they are shown in Figs. 11, 16 and 17, the effective portions of said jaws are closed upon said surface.

A suitable leaf or other spring (not shown); is

provided between the non-effective portion of each jaw member 60 and the slide 5, whereby is a bearing 65, in which bearing and a bearing formed in the wall of the housing of a clutch, which latter is indicated generally by 66, is journaled a shaft 31, the said shaft extending through said housing and carrying a worm wheel 68, the said clutch being of the kind adapted to be set or trippedto clutch the worm wheel to the shaft for one revolution at a time only.

Provided upon the upper portion of the machine frame is a bearing 69 in which is journaled a spindle 10 carrying at one end a driving pulley H and at the other end a bevel pinion 72 which engages with a second such pinion '43 mounted upon the end of a spindle 14 carried in bearings 15 secured to the frame.

Also secured upon the spindle i4 is a worm It which engages with and drives the worm wheel 68.

V Mounted upon the shaft 61 is a cam i? which engages with a roller 18 carried upon one end of a lever 19 pivoted at to the machine frame (as shown inFigs. 3, 5, 8 and 13) the opposite end of the lever being connected by a link to an. arm 82 mounted upon the inner end of the shaft 23, so that said cam will rock this shaft when one or other of the pins 4| is in engagement with its respective forked lever 42 or 43 and thus raise and lower the suckers 35 in suitably timed relationship with the operation of other parts of the machine.

Also mounted upon the shaft 61 is a second cam indicated by 84, and more clearly shown in 1 Figs. 4 and 12, which cam engages with a roller carried at the upper end of a lever 85 pivoted between lugs suchas 86 formed on a plate 81 car ried by the bracket 44. lever 85 is connected by a link 83 and an 'arm 88a to a valve indicated generally by 33, and the valve 89 is connected by a pipe 90 to the suction side of a pump, not shown, the valve also being connected by a rubber or other suitable flexible tube 9| to the suckers 35.

The shape of the cam 84 and the arrangement of the parts associated therewith is such that the suckers 35 are connected to the suction side of the pump and are disconnected therefrom and connected to atmosphere in suitably timed rela The lower end of. the

. suction is so applied, the cam 11 raises the suckers tionship with respect to the working of other parts of the machine.

Mounted upon the shaft 61 is a third cam, indicated by 92, which cooperates with a roller 93 1 carried upon the upper end of a lever 94 pivoted between lugs such as 95 formed upon the aforesaid plate 81, the lower end of the lever 64 being operatively connected through link 96 and arm 91 to a valve indicated generally by 98. g

The valve 98 is connected by a pipe 99 to a compressed air reservoir, not shown, and supplied with compressed air from the pressure or output side of the aforesaid pump, the said valve having three positions, consisting of a neutral position,

' a position in which it is shown in Fig. 6 in which it causes compressed air to be supplied to the left-hand end of the cylinder I8 through a pipe I00 at the same time opening the right-hand end of the cylinder to atmosphere through a pipe MI, and vice versa, the position in which it is shown in Figs. 9 and 14.

I02 indicates a fourth cam, also mounted on the shaft 61', which (as shownmore clearly in Fig. 10) controls through a lever I63 a three position valve I04 connected by a pipe I05 to the aforesaid compressed air reservoir, by a pipe I06 to the lower end of the inclined cylinder 45, and by a pipe 506a to the upper end of said cylinder, said valve initially being in the position indicated by the line B to supply compressed air to the lower end of the cylinder.

Also mounted upon the shaft 61 is a fifth cam, indicated by I01 designed to engage with a roller I08 (Fig. 15) carried by an arm I69 mounted upon a shaft IIO carried in bearings III formed integral with the bracket 44, the said shaft passing through the machine frame and being operatively connected by means including an arm H2 and link IIS to the main machine clutch, not

shown.

Freely mounted upon the shaft H0 is a lever II4, the upper end of which is operatively connected. to the aforesaid clutch 66.

The lower end of the lever H4 is connected in any suitable manner, for example by a Bowden wire H5 to a projection H6 slidingly mounted upon a bracket H1 secured to the underside of the guide rail 5a.

Pivoted upon the bracket I I1 is a starting lever II8 having a handle H9, the arrangement being such that when said lever is swung outwardly upon its pivot, in a lateral direction, it engages and moves the projection I I6, to pull the Bowden wire and cause the lever H4 to be rocked and make the clutch 66 clutch the worm wheel68 to the shaft 61.

Upon the rotation of the shaft 61 the cam 11 causes the shaft 23 to be rocked to depress the suckers 35 onto the uppermost sheet in the magazine, as shown in Fig. 3.

While the suckers are pressed onto the sheet. the second cam, 34, causes suction to be applied to the suckers, as shown in Fig. 4, and, whilst the together with the sheet from the magazine into the position shown in Fig. 5.

The third cam, 92, then causes compressed air to be applied to the left-hand end of the cylinder I8, in the manner shown in Fig. 6, to cause the suckers to carry the plate laterally into the position in which it is shown in Fig. '1, in which position the cam 11 depresses the plate onto the lateral slide, by rotating into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8.

A projection on the cam. 92 then engages with the roller 93 as shown in Fig. 9 and causes compressed air to be applied momentarily to the right hand end of the cylinder I8 to cause the sheet to be moved rearwardly, into engagement with a locating stop I20, to correctly position the sheet on the lateral slide, a finger I26a being provided upon the left-hand sucker rod for ensuring that the sheet shall not buckle and ride over said stop.

The fourth cam I02 then causes the compressed air to be removed from the lower end of the cylinder 45 and said lower end to be connected to atmosphere, by moving the valve into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 10.

This causes the forked member 48 to move downward and in turn permit the gravity slide 6 to move down untilthe pawl 15 thereof engages the uppermost one of the aforesaid projections I4 and the jaw members 60 have passed over the upper edge of the sheet.

The continued downward movement of the fork 43 relatively to the now stationary gravity slide then causes the bell crank lever 49 to be rotated into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 11, and the upper edge of the sheet to be gripped in the manner previously described. 4

The second cam then moves into the position shown in Fig. 12 to cut off the suction from the suckers, after which the first cam moves into the position shown in Fig. 13, to raise the suckers from the sheet. The third cam then moves into the position shown in Fig. 14 to cause the suckers to be returned to their initial position (in which they are shown in Fig. 2).

The fifth cam, I01, then displaces the arm I09, and consequently causes the press to be put into operation by clutching the belt driven fly-wheel Ia to the press. The clutch 66 then automatically declutches the worm wheel 68 from the shaft 61.

The sheet is then carried by the lateral slide 2 through the press, from side to side thereof in the manner previously described, and as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 16, until it is completely perforated.

As soon as the pin 48a has moved out of engagement with the fork 48, the portion I02a of the cam I02 engages with the roller of the lever I63 and moves the arm of the valve I04 into the position indicated by the line T to apply com-v pressed air through a pipe I06a to the top of the cylinder 45, whilst, at the same time, maintaining the lower end of the cylinder open to atmosphere, this causing the fork to be driven down into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 16,

where it is ready to be re-engaged by the pin 48a after the last row of perforations has been punched in the sheet.

When the gravity slide .6 drops down into position for the uppermost or last row of articles to be punched, it comes into line with the aforesaid projection H6, so that when said last row has been punched the gravity slide 6. engages said projection and again causes the clutch 66 to clutch the worm wheel 68 to the shaft 61, which causes the cam I01 to immediately move out of engagement with the arm I09 and stop the press.

The continued rotation of the shaft 61 then causes the cam I02 to operate the valve I04 to return it to the position indicated by the line B, and thus cause it to again apply the compressed air to the lower end of the cylinder 45 and return the fork 48 and the gravity slide 6 to their initial positions.

Before the upward motion of the fork 48 is transmitted to the gravity slide 6, the bell crank lever 49 is swung about its pivot and consequently opens the jaws 69 to free the perforated plate and permit it to fall out of the machine.

The continued rotation of the shaft 61 causes the foregoing cycle of operations 'to be repeated.

Should it be desired to stop the machine at any time, this can readily be done by manually opening the main machine clutch and/or stopping rotation of the shaft 67 by uncoupling the means which control the automatic operation of the clutch, and for which suitable provision (not shown) is preferably made.

Instead of employing a cylinder such as l8 and its associated parts for moving the suckers to transport the sheet to the position to be gripped by the grippers, a rack and pinion could be employed.

A rack and pinion could also be employed for returning the gravity slide to its initial position.

Should such rack and pinionarrangement be used, however, it would be preferable for the pinions to be driven through friction clutches arranged to slip in the event of a sheet becoming jammed, or of any other such contingency.

I claim:

1. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically ied, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, means adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at, a different station from said transverse and gravity slides; means for transporting each sheet so eX- tracted, from said station to a point adjacent said slides to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet, and for causing the grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by the transverse slide clear of the machine, and mechanism for then returning the gravity slide to its initial position prior to the transporting of the succeeding sheet to the point adjacent said slides and its presentation to the grippers.

2. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, suckers adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at a different station from said transverse and gravity slides; means for transporting each sheet so extracted, from said station to a point adjacent said slides to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet, and for causing the grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by the transverse slide clear of the machine; and mechanism for then returning the gravity slide to its initial position prior to the transporting of the succeeding sheet to the point adjacent said slides and its presentation to the grippers.

3. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide, laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, means adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at a different station from said transverse and gravity slides; means for transporting each sheet so extracted, from said station to a point adjacent said slides, to thereby permit it to be automatically" presented to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet, and for causing the grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by the transverse slide clear of the machine; and pneumatically operated mechanism for then returning the gravity slide to its initial position prior to the transporting of the succeeding sheet to the point adjacent said slides and its presentation to the grippers.

4. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto andoi the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation. with a series of step by step motions, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement. in the opposite direction, in combination, suckers adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of'a pack of sheets located at a different station from said transverse and gravity slides; means for transporting each sheet so extracted, from said station to a point adjacent said slides to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automaticallv grip the sheet, and for causing the grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by the transverse slide clear of the machine; and pneumatically operated mechanism for then returning the gravity slide to its initial position prior to the transporting of the succeeding sheet to the point adjacent said slides and its presentation to the grippers.

5. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and, of. the

kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide; together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide; whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, means adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at a different station from said transverse and gravity slides; means for transporting each sheet so extracted from said station to a point adjacent said slides, 'to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to said grippers; and mechanism for causing said grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by the transverse slide clear of the machine, and then return the gravity slide to its initial position, said mechanism comprising a cylinder; a piston within said cylinder; and a lost motion device through which said piston is operatively connected to the grippers so that, after the latter have moved onto the edge of the sheet, relative motion will take place between said piston and gravity slide to cause said grippers to close upon and hold the sheet, whereas, when said piston is subsequently driven pneumatically in the reverse direction to return the gravity slide to its initial position, said piston will first move relatively to the gravity slide and cause said grippers to release the sheet.

6. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide later-ally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, suckers adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at a different station from said transverse and gravity slides; means for transporting each sheet so ex tracted, from said station to a point adjacent said slides, to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to said grippers; and mechanism for causing said grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by the transverse slide clear of themachine, and then return the gravity slide to its initial position, said mechanism comprising a cylinder; a piston within said cylinder; and a lost motion device through which said piston is operatively connected to the grippers so that, after the latter have moved onto the edge of the sheet, relative motion will take place between said piston and gravity slide to cause saidgrippers to close upon and hold the sheet, whereas, when said piston is subsequently driven pneumatically in the reverse direction to return thegravity slide to its initial position, said piston will first move relatively to the gravity slide and cause said grippers to release the sheet.

7. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions first in one direction, and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, means adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at a different station from said transverse and gravity slides; pneumatically operated means for then moving the sheet extracting means with the sheet extracted thereby, to transport the latter to a point adjacent said slides to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet, and for causing said grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by said transverse slide clear of the machine; and mechanism for then returning the gravity slide to its initial position prior to the transporting of the succeeding sheet to the point adjacent said slides and its presentation to the grippers.

8. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions first in one direction, and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement,

and for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet; means for causing said grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by said transverse slide clear of the machine; and mechanism for then returning the gravity slide to its initial position prior to the transporting of the succeeding sheet to the point adjacent said slides and its presentation to the grippers.

9. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation with a series of step by step motions first in one direction, and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, means adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at a diiferent station from said transverse and gravity slides; pneumatic-ally operated means for then moving the sheet extracting means with the sheet extracted thereby, to transport the latter to a point adjacent said slides to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatic-ally grip the sheet, and for causing said grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by said transverse slide clear of the machine; and pneumatically operated mechanism for then returning the gravity slide to its initial position prior to the transporting of the succeeding sheet to the point adjacent said slides and its presentation to the grippers.

16. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individuallypresented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions first in one direction, and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, suckers adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at a diiferent station from said transverse and gravity slides; pneumatically operated means for then moving the sheet extracting means with the sheet extracted thereby, to transport the latter to a point adjacent said slides to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet, and for causing said grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by said transverse slide clear of the machine; and neumatically operated mechanism for then returning the gravity slide to its initial position prior to the transporting of the succeeding sheet to the point adjacent said slides and its presentation to the grippers.

11. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching .a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, means adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located .at a different station from said transverse and gravity slides; pneumatically operated means for then moving the sheet extracting means with the sheet extracted thereby to transport the latter to a point adjacent said slides to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to the grippers; and mechanism for causing said grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by the transverse slide clear of the machine, and then return'the gravity slide to its initial position, said mechanism comprising a cylinder; a piston within said cylinder; and a lost motion device through which said piston is operatively connected to the grippers so that, after the latter have moved onto the edge of the sheetyrelative motion will take place between said piston and gravity slide to cause said grippers to close upon and hold the sheet, whereas when said piston is subsequently driven pneumatically in the reverse direction to return the gravity slide to its initial position, said piston will first move relatively to the gravity slide and cause said grippers to release the sheet.

'12. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching .a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions, first in one direce tion and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in th opposite direction, in combination, suckers adapted to move onto and extract each successive sheet of a pack of sheets located at .a diiTerent station from said transverse and gravity slides; pneumatically operated means for then moving the sheet extracting means with the sheet extracted thereby to transport the latter to a point adjacent said slides to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to the grippers; and mechanism for causing said grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and carried by the transverse slide clear of the machine, and then return the gravity slide to its initial position, said mechanism comprising a cylinder; a piston within said cylinder; and a lost motion device through which said piston is operatively connected to the grippers so that, after the latter have moved onto the edge of the sheet, relative motion will take place between said piston and gravity slide to cause said grippers to close upon and hold the sheet, Whereas when said piston is subsequently driven pneumatically in the reverse direction to return the gravity slide to its initial position, said piston will first move relatively to the gravity slide and cause said grippers to release the sheet.

13. In a press for cutting sheet metal, of the kind having means for feeding each sheet in step by step fashion to have a plurality of rows of articles punched therefrom; means adapted to travel to a point adjacent said step by step feeding means, from a pack of sheets located at a different station from said feeding means; and

means, carried by said travelling means, for automatically extracting the sheets one by one from said pack and transporting them to said point to thereby permit them to be automatically presented to said feeding means; together with mechanism whereby each of the sheets is automatically freed after it has been completely perforated.

14. In a press for cutting sheet metal, of the kind having means for feeding each sheet step by step fashion to have a plurality of rows of articles punched therefrom and having grippers for gripping the sheet onto the step by step feeding means; means adapted to travel to a point adjacent said step by step feeding means, from a pack of sheets located at a different station from said feeding means, and mechanical means carried by said travelling means, for automatically extracting the sheets one by one from said pack and transporting them to said point to thereby permit them to be automatically presented to said feeding means; together with mechanism for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet; and whereby each of the sheets is automatically freed after it has been completely perforated.

15. In a press for cutting sheet metal, of the kind having means for feeding each sheet in step by step fashion to have a plurality of rows of articles punched therefrom; means adapted to travel to a point adjacent said step by step fee ing means, from a pack of sheets located at a different station from said feeding means; and pneumatic means, carried by said travelling means, for automatically extracting the sheets one by one from said pack and transporting them to said point to thereby permit them to be automaticaliy presented to said feeding means; together with mechanism whereby each of the sheets is automatically freed after it has been completely perforated.

16. In a press for cutting sheet metal, of the kind having means for feeding each sheet in step by step fashion to have a plurality of rows of articles punched therefrom and having grippers for gripping the sheet onto the step by step feeding means; means adapted to travel to a point adjacent said step by step feeding means, from a pack of sheets located at a different station from said feeding means, and pneumatic means car ried by said traveling means, for automatically extracting the sheets one by one from said pack and transporting them to said point to thereby permit them to be automatically presented to said feeding means; together with mechanism for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet; and whereby each of the sheets is automatically freed after it has been completely perforated,

17. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide beneath the punching means for the punching operation, with a series of step by step motions, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, means for releasing said gravity slide from its uppermost position, after the sheet has been brought adjacent to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatically grip said sheet upon the gravity slide being so released and for causing the grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and as the gravity slide commences to return to its uppermost position; means whereby the feeding movement of the transverse slide is then initiated; means which arrests the movement of said transverse slide when the fully perforated plate has been carried clear of the punching means; means for then effecting said return of the gravity slide to its uppermost position.

18. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, beneath the punching means, for the punching operation, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, pneumatic means for releasing said gravity slide from its uppermost position, after the sheet has been brought adjacent to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatically grip said sheet upon the gravity slide being so released and for causing the grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and as the gravity slide commences to return to its uppermost postion; means whereby the feeding movement of the transverse slide is initiated;

' means which arrests the movement of said transverse slide when the fully perforated plate has been carried clear of the punching means; pneumatic means for then effecting the return of the gravity slide to its uppermost position.

19. In a press for cutting sheet metal and punching a number of articles from sheets which are individually presented thereto, and of the kind comprising a transverse slide and a gravity feed slide, together with grippers for holding the sheet upon said gravity slide, whereby the sheet is automatically fed, by the action of said transverse slide, beneath the punching means, for the punching operation, first in one direction and then, after being displaced by the gravity slide laterally to the first line of movement, in the opposite direction, in combination, pneumatic means for releasing said gravity slide from its uppermost position, after the sheet has been brought adjacent to said grippers; means for causing said grippers to automatically grip said sheet upon the gravity slide being so released and for causing the grippers to automatically release the sheet after it has been fully perforated and as the gravity slide commences to return to its uppermost position; means whereby the feeding movement of the transverse slide is then initiated; a pin and fork connection between said pneumatic means and said gravity slide, whereby said pneumatic means and gravity slide become disengaged when the transverse slide moves toward the punching means and re-engaged when the fully perforated sheet has been carried clear of said punching means; means which arrests the movement of said transverse slide when said fully perforated sheet has been carried into the last mentioned position, and said pin and fork connection has been reestablished; pneumatic means adapted to operate, through said pin and fork connection, to then return said gravity slide to its uppermost position.

20. In a machine for punching parallel rows of perforations in sheets, punching means, and an operating mechanism therefor; a sheet holder having automatically operable sheet gripping means; means for so feeding the said sheet holder, that a sheet gripped by the said gripping means is passed below the punching means in feeding steps corresponding, respectively to the distance between the individual perforations of each row of perforations, and to the distance between the individual rows of perforations, means for causing the release of the waste sheet after termination of the sheet punching operation and for returning the sheet holder into its sheet receiving position, means for transferring individual sheets from a stack of sheets to the said sheet holder, so that the same may be received and clamped between the said sheet gripping means, while the sheet holder is in its sheet receiving position, and a control member for controlling the operation and timed relation of the said sheet transferring means, sheet gripping and sheet holder feeding means and of the said punching means operating mechanism, and being itself controlled by the said sheet holder subsequently to the latter carrying the completely perforated sheet clear of the punching means, so as to permit a continuous and automatic operation of the machine and its operation upon successive sheets, to thereby exclude any manual operation.

21. In a press for cutting sheet metal, of the kind having means for feeding each sheet in step by step fashion to have a plurality of rows of articles punched therefrom; means for automatically extracting the sheets one by one from a pack of sheets located at a different station from said step by step feeding means; and means for transporting each sheet so extracted, from said station to a point adjacent said feeding means, to permit it to be automatically presented to the latter; together with mechanism Whereby each of the sheets is automatically freed, after having been held continuously throughout the step by step feeding movement and the punching operation; and control means for controlling and timing the operation of the means for extract ing the sheets from the pack and the said means for transporting each sheet, and which control means is itself controlled by movement imparted from the step by step feeding means subsequently to the latter carrying the completely perforated sheet clear of the punching means, so as to permit a continuous and automatic operation of the machine and its operation upon successive sheets to thereby exclude any manual operation.

22. In a press for cutting sheet metal, of the kind having means for feeding each sheet in step by step fashion to have a plurality of rows of articles punched therefrom and having grippers for gripping the sheet onto the step by step feeding means; mechanical means for extracting, without manual assistance, the sheets one by one, from a pack of sheets located at a different station from said step by step feeding means; and means for transporting each sheet so extracted, from said station to a point adjacent said feeding means, to thereby permit it to be automatically presented to the latter; mechanism for causing said grippers to automatically grip the sheet and hold it continuously throughout the step by step feeding and punching operation and to automatically free it after it has been completely perforated; and control means for controlling and timing the operation of the means for extracting the sheets from the pack and the said means for transporting each sheet, and which control means in itself controlled by movement imparted from the step by step feeding means subsequently to the latter carrying the completely perforated sheet clear of the punching means, so as to permit a continuous and automatic operation of the machine and its operation' upon successive sheets to thereby exclude any manual operation.

23. In a press for cutting sheet metal of the kind having means for feeding each sheet in step by step fashion to have a plurality of rows of articles punched therefrom; pneumatic means for automatically extracting the sheets one by one from a pack of sheets located at a different station from said step by step feeding means; means for transporting each sheet so extracted from said station to a point adjacent said feeding means to permit it to be automatically presented to the latter; together with mechanism whereby each of the sheets is automatically freed after having been held continuously throughout the step by step feeding movement and the punching operation; and control means for controlling and timing the operation of the means for extracting the sheets from the pack and the said means for transporting each sheet, and which control means is itself controlled by movement imparted to it from the step by step feeding means subsequently to the latter carrying the completely perforated sheet clear of the punching means, so as to permit a continuous and automatic operation of the machine and its operation upon successive sheets, to thereby exclude any manual operation.

CHARLES JOSEPH RHODES. 

